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Four seniors at The Linsly School in Wheeling have been named Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.Rocco D’Aquila of Barnesville, Caroline Higginbottom, of Washington, Dylan Lucas of St. Clairsville and Olivia Rosenthal of Wheeling are the Linsly students named 2025 National Merit Semifinalists.All four semi-finalists have attended The Linsly School since middle school. These academically talented high school seniors can now continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write a message, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.According to Linsly’s Director of College Counseling, Mrs. Penny Cunningham, Linsly is included in the U.S. boarding school selection unit for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which puts us in a selection index which is 9 to 14 points higher than any local area schools. “This is a tremendous honor for our students, not only because of their standardized testing performance, but especially because Linsly is a boarding school which puts us in a more competitive category for the selection process. This means that compared to state standards, Linsly has an even higher bar for students to meet to be selected as semifinalists,” explained Cunningham. Linsly Head of School, Mr. Justin Zimmerman, also commented.“I am extremely proud of all of our Linsly students, but am especially proud of these four seniors who have worked so hard to earn the recognition of National Merit Semi-Finalists as a result of their outstanding academic work and performance on standardized testing,” said Mr. Zimmerman. “While these students clearly have done outstanding academic work to earn this designation, what’s even more impressive is that they have done so in a highly competitive boarding school category while also managing to be involved in athletics, theater, and community service. It is a testament to their hard work and diligence and to the supportive Linsly teachers, coaches, and mentors who have encouraged them to reach their full potential. We congratulate all these Linsly School National Merit Semi-Finalists and wish them luck as they continue through this competition.”To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95% of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship which will be announced beginning in April of 2025 and concluding in July.

Four seniors at The Linsly School in Wheeling have been named Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.Rocco D’Aquila of Barnesville, Caroline Higginbottom, of Washington, Dylan Lucas of St. Clairsville and Olivia Rosenthal of Wheeling are the Linsly students named 2025 National Merit Semifinalists.All four semi-finalists have attended The Linsly School since middle school. These academically talented high school seniors can now continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write a message, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.According to Linsly’s Director of College Counseling, Mrs. Penny Cunningham, Linsly is included in the U.S. boarding school selection unit for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which puts us in a selection index which is 9 to 14 points higher than any local area schools. “This is a tremendous honor for our students, not only because of their standardized testing performance, but especially because Linsly is a boarding school which puts us in a more competitive category for the selection process. This means that compared to state standards, Linsly has an even higher bar for students to meet to be selected as semifinalists,” explained Cunningham. Linsly Head of School, Mr. Justin Zimmerman, also commented.“I am extremely proud of all of our Linsly students, but am especially proud of these four seniors who have worked so hard to earn the recognition of National Merit Semi-Finalists as a result of their outstanding academic work and performance on standardized testing,” said Mr. Zimmerman. “While these students clearly have done outstanding academic work to earn this designation, what’s even more impressive is that they have done so in a highly competitive boarding school category while also managing to be involved in athletics, theater, and community service. It is a testament to their hard work and diligence and to the supportive Linsly teachers, coaches, and mentors who have encouraged them to reach their full potential. We congratulate all these Linsly School National Merit Semi-Finalists and wish them luck as they continue through this competition.”To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95% of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship which will be announced beginning in April of 2025 and concluding in July.

The Linsly School held its 210th Commencement on Sunday, May 26 at 1:00 p.m. at the Stifel Field House, graduating eighty-eight seniors from the Class of 2024. These graduates will matriculate into 42 different colleges and universities in 17 different states, and 6 different countries.During the commencement ceremony, several graduates were presented awards in recognition of their outstanding qualities in leadership, citizenship, and character.Brooklynn Wayt, daughter of Drs. Michael and Heather Wayt of Wheeling, was named Valedictorian of the Senior Class of 2024 for having the highest upper school cumulative grade point average in the senior class. She will attend Miami of Ohio in the fall. Katherine Kastelic, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Kastelic of Washington, PA, was named Salutatorian of the Senior Class of 2024 for having the second highest upper school cumulative grade point average in the senior class. She will attend Denison University in the fall.The Head of School Award, given to those members of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, through his and her display of leadership, academic excellence, and willingness to serve, acted as a model for all Linsly students, was presented to Cole Bloomfield, son of Ms. Debbie Stanton of Wheeling and Mr. Keith Bloomfield of Wheeling and Emily Klempa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Justin J. Klempa of Bridgeport, Ohio. Bloomfield will attend Virginia Tech and Klempa will attend The Ohio State University in the fall.The Hofreuter Award, given to that member of the senior class who has been exemplary in her service to the school and community, in the tradition of the late Dr. Donald H. Hofreuter, Linsly Cadet Major, community leader and longtime Chairman of Linsly’s Board of Trustees, was awarded to Brooklynn Wayt.The Guenther Award, given to those members of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, exhibit outstanding leadership, citizenship and character, given in memory of former Linsly student David Guenther, was awarded to Alex Taylor, son of Mr. James Taylor and Dr. Heather Taylor of Wheeling and Brooklynn Wayt. Taylor will attend Ohio University in the fall.The Theodore Scott Owens Award, given to those members of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, exhibit the qualities of determination, seriousness, and persistence respected by all, given in memory of former Linsly student Theodore Scott Owens, was awarded to Jack Selmon, son of Mr. Daniel Selmon and Judge Julie Selmon of Woodsfield, Ohio and Rachel Edinger, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Edinger of Wheeling. Selmon will attend Wheeling University and Edinger will attend West Virginia University in the fall.The Albert and Martin Buncher Award, given to those resident students, who in the opinion of the Dormitory Masters, Resident Faculty, and Head of School, exemplify that which is looked for in every boarding student, given in memory of the late Albert Buncher, father of Martin Buncher, former Linsly student, was awarded to Roi Gerson, son of Mr. Oren Gerson and Ms. Sharon Gerson of Rehovot, Israel; Rosa Sohlberg, daughter of Mr. Tomi V. Sohlberg and Mrs. Tarja J. Jalli of Helsinki, Finland; and Neri Weiner, son of Mr. Ronen Weiner and Mrs. Rivka Weiner of Qidron, Israel.A program continued by President Biden known as the “President’s Education Awards” is intended to recognize students who have attained a high level of academic achievement while pursuing a solid core of academic courses. Receiving this award were members of Linsly’s National Honor Society: Caitlin Bedway, Cole Bloomfield, Helen Bossart, Katherine Carson,Brady Childers, Alayna Cook, Rachel Edinger, Gianna Ferrelli, Alexa Finley, Peyton Florence, Agustin Liu, Ava Gainer, Matthew George, Whitney Haught, Asher Higham, Payton Hill, Sarah-Catherine Jackson, John Paul Jones, Katherine Kastelic, Emily Klempa, Riley Maroney, Sophia Monk, Anna Norman, Wesley Palmer, Angelia Recrosio, Jack Selmon, Nathen Smith, Rosa Sohlberg, Alexander Taylor, Madison Taylor, Alyssa Tomlinson, Thomas Turak, Jonah Vaysbakh, Brooklynn Wayt and Dillon Wilson.The Linsly Social Studies Award is given to that member of the Senior Class who has achieved an outstanding perception of Social Studies, and has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during his Upper School career at Linsly. This year’s recipient was Thomas Turak, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Turak of Wheeling. Turak will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall.The Linsly Mathematics Award, given to that member of the Senior Class who, determined by the Mathematics Department has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during his Upper School career at Linsly was awarded to Nathen Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. James O. Smith of Glen Dale. Smith will attend The Ohio State University in the fall. Katherine Kastelic was named the recipient of The Gilleland Award, established in memory of Professor Brady Gilleland, recognizing a graduating senior who studied Latin and succeeded in her study. Brooklynn Wayt was named the recipient of The Linsly Science Award given to that member of the Senior Class who has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during her Upper School career at Linsly. The recipients of The Max W. Laborde Award,given to those Senior English students who, in the opinion of the English Department, best met the standards set forth in the department were Katherine Kastelic and Brooklynn Wayt.The John Anwar Spanish Award is given in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Anwar’s eldest son, John, who passed away in 1991 when he was a senior at Linsly. This award recognizes the graduating senior who, through consistent dedication and hard work, has distinguished herself in the study of Spanish. Receiving the John Anwar Spanish Award was Alyssa Tomlinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Tomlinson of Powhatan Point, Ohio. Tomlinson will attend Marietta College in the fall.The Robert W. Schramm Physics Award, given to that member of the senior class who has attained the highest average in Physics, was Brooklynn Wayt.Among the Linsly graduates of the Class of 2024, thirteen members of the Class of 2024 began their careers at Linsly in the fifth grade, completing grades five through twelve at The Linsly School. Those graduates, also known as “Linsly Lifers,” are: Nate Berhalter, Cole Bloomfield, Katherine Carson, Brady Childers, Nico Giovengo, John Paul Jones, Riley Maroney, Anna Norman, Jack Selmon, Madison Taylor, Mikey Troullos, Thomas Turak and Brooklynn Wayt.The following students will receive their diplomas as part of The Linsly School’s graduating Class of 2024:Class of 2024 by hometownWest Virginia:Wheeling: Cole Cramer Bloomfield, Helen Marie Bossart, Katherine Ann Carson, Brady William Childers, Atley Thomas Cowan, Ksaun Frederick Davis-Walker, Rachel Grace Edinger, Ava Gainer, Matthew Alexander George, Whitney Marie Haught, Asher William Higham, Sarah-Catherine Jackson, John Paul Jones, Lane Alex Kendzerski, Lucy Anne Klug, Raymond David Kovalesky, Wesley Daniel Palmer, Payton Rose Storch, Alexander Lawrence Taylor, Madison Ann Taylor, Thomas Reed Turak, Brooklynn Shea Wayt, Kyle Jacob White, Ayla Marie Wilson; Benwood:Nicola Giovanni Giovengo; Glen Dale: Alexa Marie Finley, Jackson Donovan Kessler, Elle Marie Ranney, Nathen Xavier Smith, Luis Aidan Wade; Moundsville: Payton Leila Hill; Triadelphia: Alayna Nicole Cook; Valley Grove: Andrew Dylan Heath; Weirton:Angelia Helena RecrosioOhio:Bellaire: Landon Erich Taylor; Belmont: Nicholas Reinhardt Hellmann, Grant Wesley Murray; Bridgeport:Emily Annalynn Klempa, Andrew Michael Skadra; Martins Ferry: Nathaniel Thomas Berhalter; Powhatan Point: Alyssa Marie Tomlinson; Shadyside: Gianna Marie Ferrelli, Peyton Lynn Florence, Avery Rose Sadlowski; St. Clairsville: Caitlin Lanay Bedway, Avery Mae Gilman, Riley Elizabeth Maroney, Sophia Rose Monk, Anna Louise Norman, Theodore Michael Troullos; Steubenville:Samantha Brettell Pagley; Wintersville: Mark Simon Alkaed; Woodsfield: Jack Brennan SelmonPennsylvania:Prosperity: Dillon James Wilson; Washington: Ethan Gabriel Carlisle, Katherine Marie KastelicOut of Tri-State Region:Van Nuys, CA: Naseef Binder Bawali Lubowa; Wheatfield, IN: Clark Jacob SzymusiakInternational Graduates:Luanda, Angola: Kevin Joao Almada Lourenco; Caba, Argentina: Agustin Francisco Liu; Santo Tomé, Argentina: Mariano Fonseca; Melbourne, Australia: Zain Custovic; Sydney, Australia: Jonah Jack Vaysbakh; Vienna, Austria: Kevin Marcel Stanisi; Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil: Pedro Henrique Calsavaro de Barros;Grondines, Canada: Jaycob Sauvageau; Lac-Beauport, Canada: Benjamin Lamonde; Henan Zhengzhou, China: Yiyang Peng; Zagreb, Croatia: Sarah Michelle Coha; Espoo, Finland: Daniel Heikki Viljami Farin; Helsinki, Finland: Rosa Helmi Aurora Sohlberg;Jarvenpaa, Finland:Toni Juhani Malkki; Hamburg, Germany:Jamie Herve Riedel; Schenefeld, Germany: Malte Feil; Qidron, Israel: Neri Weiner; Rehovot, Israel: Roi Gerson; Busto Arsizio, Italy: Jacopo Vinco; Carlino, Italy: Alessandro Cimigotto;Milan, Italy: Chiara Maria Chieffo; Naples, Italy: Alessandro Romeres; Belgrade, Serbia: Stefan Malovic; Beograd, Serbia: Luka Kecman; El Vendrell, Spain: Mireia Brulles Lopez; Formentera, Spain: Ana Cordoba Mures; Las Palmas Lanzarote, Spain:Kameron Kezele Masi; Naron, Spain: Ines Gonzalez-Llanos Segura; Istanbul, Turkey: Abdullah Samir Balkan; Kyiv, Ukraine: Kateryna Bondarchuk In his Commencement speech, Linsly Head of School, Mr. Justin Zimmerman, addressed the graduates, reflecting on what has been a successful and memorable year. He recognized the numerous accomplishments of the Class of 2024, recalling their many academic and athletic accomplishments including being named a Presidential Scholar Candidate, AP Scholars, winning OVAC Championships and serving their community through volunteer work. Mr. Gary Glessner, Linsly Class of 1985 and Chairman of the Linsly Board of Trustees, also addressed the graduates, welcoming them as the newest members of Linsly alumni. The Linsly School, located in Wheeling, WV., was founded in 1814 and is the oldest school of its kind west of the Allegheny Mountains. Linsly is a college preparatory school serving both young men and women in grades five through twelve for both boarding and day students. The school is accredited by The Independent Schools Association of the Central States.Photo Cutline Major Graduation Award Winners 2024Front Row Seated Left to Right: Jack Selmon: Theodore Scott Owens Award; Rachel Edinger: Theodore Scott Owens Award; Alexander Taylor: Guenther Award; Brooklynn Wayt: Linsly Valedictorian Award, Hofreuter Award, Guenther Award, Max W. LaBorde English Award, Robert W. Schramm Physics Award and the Linsly Science Award; Katherine Kastelic: Linsly Salutatorian Award, Max W. LaBorde English Award, Gilleland Latin Award; Cole Bloomfield: Head of School Award; Emily Klempa: Head of School Award.Standing Left to Right: Roi Gerson, Rosa Sohlberg (not pictured) & Neri Weiner: Albert & Martin Buncher Award Winners; Nathen Smith: Linsly Mathematics Award; Thomas Turak: Linsly Social Studies Award; Alyssa Marie Tomlinson: John Anwar Spanish Award.